Apparatus for treating yarn in hollow mass formation



W. N. GER

APPARATUS FOR TREATING YARN IN HOLLOW MASS FORMATION Filed y 192s 2U, A T- w Lvms/vTa 777 /Z, y VW ATTO NEY.

Patented May 20, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WARD N. GERE, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE' ASSIGNMENTS, TO

ECLIPSE TEXTILE DEVICES INCORPORATED), OF ELMIRA HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, A-

. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR TREATING YARN IN HOLLOW MASS FORMATION Application filed Kay 18 This invention relates to apparatus for treating yarn in hollow mass formation. A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved, efficient and economical apparatus for carrying out the method of spotting yarn in mass formation by means of centrifugal force which is described and claimed in my co-pending application, filed November 3, 1925, Serial No. 66,533, on which U. S. Patent No. 1,724,015, was issued on August 13, 1929.

Apparatus embodying my present invention differs from that shown in my aforesaid application in many particulars, including an arrangement by which the hollow cone or other mass of yarn is supported in an upright position and rotated about a vertical axis.

' The main object in rotating the yarn cone about its vertical axisis to obtain a higher rate of speed of rotation with less vibration, less wear upon the journal bearings, greater rapidity and uniformity of coloring and a greater output of the resultant production than would be possible by revolving the same cone about a horizontal axis or by any other method thus far-known in this art.

These yarn cones are usually wound upon hollow conical cones insuch manner that the yarn strands of adjacent layers cross each other diagonally thereby producing a highly porous mass of yarn of uniform radial thick ness throughout its length and of substantially the same taper as that of the core.

Owing to this high degree of porosity of the mass of yarn it is found that the coloring .fluid introduced into the interior of the cone coloring process and apparatus and also assures a more uniform coloring of the restricted zones to which the coloring fluid is applied.

Another object is to provide means for restraining the periphery of the yarn cone 1926. Serial No. 109,980.

from outward expansion by centrifugal force of the high speed rotation of the cone.

Another object is to provide means for maintaining a balanced co-axial relation between the revolving cone holder and the core supporting mandrel so as to assure uniform distribution of the coloring fluid to the restricted zones of the yarn cone by reducing to a minimum the vibration incidental to the high speed rotation of those parts.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the process and ap aratus will be brought out in the following escription.

In the drawings j ,7

Figure 1 is a top plan of my improved'apparatus for carrying out the improved its lower and adapted to be clamped by bolts -2- to a benchor other available support and its upper end ble cap -3 whic is "securedin place b what is commonly known as a bayonet 100 so that it may be easily and quickly removed and replaced by a slight angular movement thereof relatively to the main body ofthe frame. 4

The cylindrical frame 1 is provided intermediate its ends with a horizontal ortion -4- dividing the interior thereof lntO' lower and upper compartments -5- and 6+ and provided with a vertically elongated cylindrical guide opening 7 coaxial with the axis of thecylinder -1.

A cylindrical bearing sleeve 8 is tight- 1y fitted or otherwise secured in the guide opening 7- to extend beyond the lower and upper ends thereof for receiving and supporting lower and upperiball bearings 9 and 10 and outer and inner retaining rings -9'-- and and -10' and 10" therefor, the outer' ball retaining rovided with a remova rings 9' and -10, being tightly fitted in annular recesses in corresponding ends of the sleeve 8.

A hollow tapered cone holder or cage 1l is mounted in an upright position in the upper compartment 6 to rotate about its vertical axis co-axial with the axis of the cylinder 1 and sleeve 8 with its bottom portion overhanging the upper end of said sleeve and provided with a central depending hub .12 extending into the upper end of the sleeve and through the adjacent inner ring --10" in which it is tightly fitted or otherwise secured to cause the ring to rotate therewith within the outer ring 10 through the medium of the interposed ballbearings 1Q, said rings being provided with annular grooves or ball races for receiving the balls -10 and thereby constituting radial as well as end thrust hearings to firmly hold the cage 11 against lateral or axial movement relatively to the sleeve 8 while permitting free rotation of said cage.

An upright shaft -13- is secured at its upper end in a central opening in the hub 12 co-axial with the cage -11 and has its lower end extended through and beyond the lower end of the sleeve 8 for receiving and supporting a pulley --14 and an adjusting nut 15 engaging the lower threaded end of the shaft and adjacent end of the pulley.

This pulley 14- is provided with a reduced forwardly extending hub --14'- tightly fitted within or otherwise secured to the inner ring -1l to cause the latter to rotate therewith, said hub extending above the ring 9" and threaded externally for receiving a lock nut 16- for additionally locking the ring 9"- to the hub of the pulley.

The ball-retaining rings 9'-- and -9 are provided wit-h annular grooves or ball races for receiving the balls -9- which serve as end thrust and radial hearings to hold the pulley and lower end of the shaft 13'and incidentally the cage 1lagainst lateral or endwise movement relatively to the bearin% sleeve 8.

he pulley 11- is preferably splined by means of a key 17-- to the lower end of the shaft 13- to permit axial adjustment of the pulley and cage against their respective hearings to take up wear, these adjustments being effected by means of the nut 15-.

In other words, a slight tightening of the nut 15-- will cause a corresponding upward movement of the pulley -14 and its bearing ring --9 and will also effect a corresponding downward movement of the cage 11 and its bearing ring -l0" thereby tightening both ball bearings in one operation.

The cage 11 is flared upwardly or tapered downwardly to correspond to the taper of the yarn cone as A which it is adapted to receive and retain against radial expansion when the cage with the cone therein is being rotated at a high rate of speed for coloring purposes, it being understood that the interior diameter of the cage is made to correspond approximately to the diameters of standard sizes or weights of cones A.

These yarn cones are adapted to be wound upon a hollow tapered core as a of cardboard or equivalent material so that the mass of yarn Wound theeron will be of uniform radial thickness, the yarn of adjacent layers being arranged to cross each other diagonally thereby renderingthe mass of wound yarn highly porous.

The peripheral wall of the cage 11- is foraminous in that it is provided with a plurality of apertures a throughout the major portion of its area forthe passage of the coloring matter therethrough and into the compartment -6 in a manner hereinafter described.

The cover plate 3- is provided with a central internally threaded aperture 18 for receiving an externally threaded hollow bushing 19 co-axial with the axis of the cage 11 and preferably extending some distance beyond the lower and upper faces of the cover plate .3 to form an adjustable support for the hub as --20 of a rotary cone-supporting mandrel 21.

The hub 20 is preferably made'separate from the mandrel -21- and has its lower end threaded and screwed into a threaded socket in the upper end of the mandrel to permit the use of mandrels of different tapers or sizes as may be required for differently tapered cones.

The mandrel 21 and its hub 20 are also provided with central lengthwise openings for receiving an upright section 22- of the feed pipe for the coloring liquid, said section --22 being connected by a flexible pipe 23 to a reservoir 24- for the coloring fluid which is controlled by a valve 25. The central lengthwise openings in the mandrel 21 and its hub 20- are of slightly greater diameter than the pipe section 22- to permit free rotation of the mandrel relatively to and without friction with the ipe section.

The object of the flexible connection 23- is to permit the cover 3 and parts carried thereby including the mandrel .-21 and yarn cone -A to be removed and replaced relatively to the cage 11- and ease -lwithout disconnecting the feed pipe from the mandrel .or disturbing any of the other parts of the apparatus.

The central lengthwise opening in the mandrel 21 extends-the major portion of the length thereof but is closed at its lower end and has its intermediate portions provided with annular enlargements or distributing gal force as the cone is rotated.

The mandrel 21 is also provided with relatively shallow peripheral grooves -29 and 29-- registering with the lower and upper sets of perforations -27 and 27 and perforations 28 and 28 to allow a free distribution of the coloring fluid to the registering portions of the yarn.

The lowerchamber 26 is of preferably smaller capacity than the chamber 26.'- while the upper half as 30 of the passage connecting said chambers is preferably flared upwardl 'or gradually enlarged froma level substantially midway between the chambers so as to facilitate the even distribution of the coloring liquid to both chambers when discharged into the lower chamber. I

The lower end of the color supply pipe 22. terminates substantially midway between the chambers 26 and 26' or at about the beginning of the upward flare of-the connecting passage between said chambers leavin sufiicient clearance around the lower end 0 the pipe for the passage of the fluid lf)rom the lower chamber to the upper chamer. a

It is to be understood that when the mandrel and cone supported thereby are revolved at a high rate of speed while the coloring mat teris introduced through the pipe 22 into theinterior of the mandrel this coloring matter is thrown by centrifugal force against the walls of the central passage and tends to rise from the lower chamber 26- upwardly along said walls and by flaring the upper end of the connecting passage between the chambers facilitates the even distribution of the coloring fluid from the lower chamber 26 to the upper chamber 26 and thence outpass operative position by suitable retainers, each consisting of an inner ring 33 and an outer ring -34--. i

The portion of the hub -20. which extends through the inner retainer ring.33 and spacing sleeve -32 is reduced in diameter to form an annular shoulder at the inner end of the lower retainer while the upper end of the hub extends beyond the upper retainer and is threaded externally for receiving an adjusting nut -35 The bushing -19 extends upwardly above the adjusting nut 35-- and is provided with a central internally threaded opening of sufiiciently large diameter to permit theball-retainers and sleeve -32- to therethrough, said opening being normally closed by a screw plug 36- which is l ipld in its a justed position by a set screw The inner rings of the lower ball-retainer are interposed between thelower end of the sleeve 32- and annular'shoulder on the hub 20- while the inner rings of the upper ball-retainer are interposed between the upper end of the sleeve 32 and nut 35 which serves to firmly clamp the inner rings at bboth retainers and sleeve 32- to said The outer rings of the lower ball-retainer are seated on an'inturned annular flange on the lower end of the bushing 19- while the outer rings of the upper ball-retainer are seated against the lower end of the screw plug --36 which may be adjusted to takeup wear of both ofthe ball-retainers simultaneously, said screw plug being provided with apertures in its upper face for receiving a spanner wrench, not shown.

The bushing 19 may also be adjusted vertically by rotation in the cap section 3 for raising and lowering the mandrel -21- and parts carried thereb but more particu-,

larly for properly setting the yarn cone against the peripheral walls of the cage --11 to assure suflicient friction between those parts for transmitting rotary motion from the cage to the yarn cone and mandrel.

The means for rotating the cage preferably consists of an electric motor 'M mounted in an upright osition upon a suitable supportin frame and having the lower end 0 its armature shaft pro-" vided with a pulley C which is connected by a belt c to the pulley --+14- on the lower end of the cage shaft -13. The frame .-B'- is hingedi at"-'-'-b to suitable brackets -b onth one side ofthe cylindrical casing to swing about a vertical axis andhas its opposite side'adjustable toward and from the casing to tighten the belt, said adjusting means consisting of a screw stud don the frame 1 and opposed adjusting nuts eengaging said stud and the inner and outer faces of the adjFacentportion of the frame B as shown in igure 1.

Suitable means is provided for lubricating the bearings for the shaft --18 consisting in this instance of a radial oil passage f in the partition 4- leading from the upper bearing to the outer side of the casing and having its outer end provided with an oil pocket f into which the lubricant may be introduced, the periphery of the hub -12- of thecage 11- being provided with a spiral groove gfor distributing the oil to the bearing --10- and also allowing some of the oil to drop into the lower bearing 9- through the interiorof the sleeve -8.

The cap 3- is provided with suitable handles --3-- by which it may be unlocked and removed from the upper end of the casing --lto permit the removal and replacement of the mandrel 21- and parts carried thereby from the-interior of the cage 11--. The chamber -6- is provided at itslower end with a drainage pipe 6 to allow any excess colorin liquid which may be expelled through and rom the yarn cone A- to be.

collected and re-used if desired.

A brake member 38 is movable radially at will in an aperture in the upper portion of one side of the casing 1 into engagement with the peri hery of the upper end of the .cage 11- or quickly retarding or stopping the rotation thereof, after the coloring operation, said brake member being normally held out of engagement with the cage by a retracting spring 38, Figure 2.

While the apparatus which has been described is of special value in carr ing out my method of spotting yarn by centrifugal force, it is apparent that the apparatus-may also be used for other purposes.

Operation The cover 3 carrying the mandrel 21- and feed pipe 22 1s first unlocked and removed from the case -1- after which the yarn cone as -A with its conical core -a therein is placed by hand upon the mandrel after which the cover with the mandrel and cone thereon is replaced and looked upon the top of the case with the periphery of the yarn cone frictionally engaged with the periplheral walls of the cage -11-. he motor is then started to rotate. the cage together with the yarn cone and mandrel therein at a high rate of speed of say, 3400 revolutions per minute duringwhich the coloring li uid is allowed to flow in limited quantitles't rough the pipe 22- and into the interior of the mandrel where it is first discharged into the lower chamber 26.

Portions of this coloring liquid will rise by centrifugal force to the u per chamber 26' and the colorin liqui will then be expelled by centrifugal force through the apertures 27-- and 27'- and 28;- and 28- through the registering portions of the orous yarn cone -A and thence outwar 1y through the apertures a' in the cage into the interior of the casing 1 thereby coloring the restricted zones of the yarn which, when unwound, will be colored in spots throughout its length.

The sur lus coloring liquid which may lodge in th e chamber -6 may be drawn off throu h the drain pipe 6- and re-used if desired. Owing to t e high speed of rotation of the cage 11 and yarn cone therein it is evident that the coloring liquid will qhuickly pass in radial zones through the yarn t ereb affording an expeditious and efficient metho of coloring the yarn in spots.

Under this process the yarn may be rapidly and efiiciently colored without the use of alcohol in the coloring liquid thereby eliminating one of the major items of expense in coloring processesof this character.

The mandrel 21- may be adjusted through the medium of the screw bushing 19- to expand and frictionally bind the core a' against the interior of the yarn cone A to not only assure transmission of rotary motion from the cone to the mandrel and frictional engagement of the periphery of the yarn cone with the peripheral walls of the cage but also serves to prevent upward displacement of the rtion of the yarn cone adjacent the mandre due to the tendency of the yarn to separate from the core 'by centrifugal force in which case the upward flare of the mandrel resists the tendency to upward movement of the contiguous portions of the yarn and assure the retention of the original form of the yarn cone during the coloring process.

It will also be evident that the upward adjustment of the screw bushing 19 may be used to release the mandrel from the core and thereb permit the free removal of the core with t e colored yarn thereon following said coloring o eration.

Just be ore the cover -,-3-- is raised to permit the removal of the mandrel and colored cone the screw --19- is unscrewed sufficiently to release the mandrel from engagement with the core a/- by upward displacement and if the core should tend to lift with the mandrel by adhesion thereto it will engage an overl ng annularfiange s on the under side 0 the cover to effect a stripping of the core from the mandrel and thus permit the mandrel to be withdrawn by the up ward displacement of the cover leaving the core in the yarn cone A--.

After the cover and mandrel have been removed by upward displacement the yarn cone A- may be withdrawn through the upper end of the cage 11 by means of a ring -4- engaging the lower end of the yarn cone at the outside of the core -a, said ring being provided with diametrically oppoouter and'inner peripheries of the yarn cone,

the frictional engagement of said yarn cone serving to transmit rotary motion from one element to the other, and means for rotating one of said elements with the yarn cone between them.

- 2. In an a paratus for spot coloring yarn wound in ho low cone formation, opposed coently mounted git axially mounted cone supporting elements.

rotatable about a vertical axis, and provided with means for frictionally engaging the outer and inner peripheries of the yarn cone, the frictional engagement of said yarn cone serving totransmit rotary motion from one. element to the other, means for applying a coloring fluid to a limited portion of the interior area of the yarn cone, and means for rotating one of said elements.

3. Inan apparatus for spot coloring yarn wound in hollow cone formation, co-axially mounted supporting elements for frictionally engaging theouter and inner peripheries of the yarn cone, means for rotating one of said elements, and means for apfpl ing a coloring liquid to a limited area 0 t e interior of th cone during its rotation.

4. In apparatus for treating yarn wound in hollow cone .formation, opposed internal and external sup 'orting elements independor rotation about a common axis and frictionally engaging the outer and inner surfaces of the Jam cone, the frictional engagement of sai yarn cone serving to transmit rotary motion from one element to the other, and means for rotatin one of said elements with the yarn cone tween a. them.

5. In apparatusfor treating yarn wound in hollow cone formation, op osed internal and external su porting e ements .independently mounted for rotation about a common axis and frictionally engag ng the outer and inner surfaces of the yarn cone, the

apparatus for treating yarn wound I in 'hollow cone formation, opposed coaxial supporting elements rotatable about a common axis, means for causing an approaching movement of said elements along their common axis to force them into frictional engagement with the inner and outer surfaces of the yarn cone, and means for rotating one of said elements.

7. In apparatus for treating yarn wound in hollow cone formation, opposed coaxial supporting elements rotatable about a common ax1s, means for causing an approaching movement of said elements along-their common axis to force themintofrictional engagement with the inner and outer surfaces of the yarn cone, means for rotating one of said elements, and means for applying a coloring fluid to the inner surface of the yarn cone during such rotation.

8". In apparatus for treating yarn wound in hollow cone formation, opposed cone supportin elements, independent bearings for said cements supportmg' them in coaxialrelation, said elements frictionally engaging the outer and inner surfaces ofthe yarn cone so that the yarn cone may serve to transmit rotary motion from oneelement to the .other, and means for rotating one of said elements with the yarn cone between them. 9. In apparatus for treating yarn wound in hollow'cone formation, opposed cone supporting elements, independent bearings ,for

said elements supporting them for rotation about a common axis, means for causing a relative approaching movement of said bearings along saidcommon axis to bring the elements 1 into frictional engagement with the inner and outer surfaces of the yarn cone, and 7 means for rotating one of said elements.

v 10. In apparatus for treating yarn wound in hollow cone formation, the combination of a-casin'g, a detachable cover for said casing,

' a conical cage rotatably mounted in the casing and having its larger endi' open and adapted to engage; the outer surface of a yarn cone, a conical mandrel rotatably -mounted in the cover and coaxial with the cage when the cover is applied to the casing and adapted to, engage the inner surface of a yarn cone, and means for rotating one'of said rotatably mounted elements. I

11. In apparatus for dyeing yarn wound in hollow cone formation, the combination of a casing, a detachable cover for the casing, a conical cage rotatably mounted in the easing and having its larger end open, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in the cover and coaxial with said cage. when the cover is applied to the casing, a conical mandrel secured to the inner end of said hollow shaft and having peripheral openings and a as sage connectin said openin s with the ore of the hollow s ihaft, means or rotating one of said rotatably mounted members after the cover has been applied to the casing, and

means for introducing dye through the hollow shaft into the mandrel.

12. In apparatus for treating yarn wound in hollow cone formation, opposed co-axial supporting elements engaging respectively the inner and outer surfaces of the cone means for rotating one of said elements, and thrust bearings preventing a separating movement of said element during such rotation. i

13; In apparatus for treating yarn wound in hollow cone formation, the combination with means for rapidly rotating the, yarn cone, of means for preventing the yarn on the inner surface of the cone from moving towards the larger end of the cone, and for preventing the yarn on the outer surface of the cone from moving towards the smaller end of the cone under the efl'ect of centrifugal force.

14. In apparatus for treating yarn wound in hollow cone formation, the combination with means for rapidly rotating the yarn cone, of means for positively preventing the yarn on the inner and outer surfaces of the cone from shifting longitudinally under the effect of centrifugal force.

15. In apparatus for spot-dyeing yarn wound in hollow mass formation a rotatable mandrel extending into the hollow of the yarn mass, containing an axial passage for the introduction of coloring liquid and spaced radial passages, and having peripheral grooves connecting the outer ends of said radial passa es to distribute the coloring liquid over t e surface of the mandrel between said radial passages.

16. In apparatus for spot-dyeing yarn wound in hollow mass formation, the combination of a rotatable mandrel entering the hollow of the yarn mass and containin an axial passage and spaced sets of radia passages, and means for introducing a coloring liquid into said axial passage at a point between said radial assages.

17 n apparatus for spot-dyeing yarn wound in hollow mass formation, the combination of a rotatable mandrel entering the hollow of the mass and containing an axial passage and spaced sets of radial passages, anda color sup ly pipe extending into the axial passage 0 the mandrel and terminating between said sets of radialdpassages.

18. In ap aratus for spotyeing yarn wound in ho llow mass formation, thecombination of a rotatable mandrel entering. the hollow of the mass and containing axlally spaced distribution chambers and an axial passage connecting said chambers and radial passages extending outward from each chamber and means for introducin colorin liquid into said axial passage flatween said chambersa 19. In ap aratus for spot-dyeing yarn wound in ho ow mass formation, the com- 7 the axial passa bination of a rotatable mandrel enterin the hollow of the mass and containing axially spaced distribution chambers and an axial passage connecting said chambers and radial assages extending outward from each cham er, and a color supply pipe entering e the mandrel and terglinatin gin said passage between said chamera.

20. In apparatus for spot-coloring yarn wound in hollow mass formation, the combination of a rotatable mandrel entering the hollow of the mass and containing spaced distribution chambers and radial passages extending outward from said chambers and an axial passage connecting said chambers and flaring outwardly towards each chamber from a constricted central portion, and means for introducing a coloring liquid into said passage at its constricted central portion so that the liquid is distributed to the chambers along the flaring portions of the passage by centrifugal force.

'21. In apparatus for spot-dyeing yarn wound in hollow mass formation, a mandrel rotatable about a vertical axis, entering the hollow of the mass from its upper end and containing spaced upper and lower distribution chambers and radial passages extendin}; outwardly from said chambers and an axial passage connecting said chambers and flaring outwardly towards its upper end and means for introducing colorin liquid into the lower chamber, so that the ye may be distributed from the lower to the upper chamber along said flaring passage by centrifugal force.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of May 1926.

WARD N. GERE. 

